Nail clipper



Dec. 19, 1961 H. w. BASSETT NAIL CLIPPER Filed Aug. 29, 1960 INVENTQR A/EWRY M6ASSE7'T ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,013,334 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 3,013,334 NAHL CLIPPER Henry W. Bassett, South Britain, Conn, asslgnor to The W. E. Bassett Company, Derby, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Aug. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 52,389 4 Claims. (Cl. 30-28) My invention relates to an improved nail-clipper construction.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated, featuring improved means for retaining nail clippings against loss.

It is another object to meet the above object with a structure in which accumulated nail clippings may be readily discharged.

It is a further object to meet the above objects with a structure which may be simple and elfective and which may produce a neat, overall appearance.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from the reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of a clipper embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is plan view of the clipper of FIG. 1, as viewed from the underside;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken in the plane 3-3 of FIG. 2; 7

FIG. 4 is an exploded fragmentary view in perspective, illustrating deflection members of the invention as utilized in the form of FIGS. 1 to 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating a modification.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates employment of readily removable deflection-plate means in conjunction with a clipper of generally conventional construction, whereby accumulated clippings may be temporarily stored to as to avoid unwitting discharge of clippings. The deflection plate structure of the invention is hlngedly supported on the clip-per and is so arranged that when in closed position it is latched to retain a rigid assembly. In the forms to be described, two such deflection-plate members are utilized, and they are latched together when in closed position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the invention is shown in application to a conventional clipper construction employing two like jaw members 11 which may be elongated and secured, as by spot welding in the region 12, near one end thereof. The jaws 1t)11 are preferably formed of high-quality spring steel and, when secured at 12, the opposite ends diverge as shown in the drawing. Cuttings edges 1314 are formed and ground at this opposite end. The jaws 1l)11 have, near the cutting end, aligned openings through which a rivet 15 is passed. Rivet 15 has a head 16 seated against the underside of the lower jaw 14 and a slot 17 engaged by a transversely extending bridge or pivot portion 18 at the end of an actuating lever 19. Preferably, in the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1, the jaws Ll3-l4 are compressed somewhat against each other so as to provide resilient retention of the described assembly.

In accordance with the invention, deflection members 20-21 are carried beneath the lower jaw to position side plates 22 (from member 26) and 23 (from member 21) at opposite ends of the open space between jaws 1011. The secured ends of jaws 1011 have aligned openings at 24 and these openings are used for the pivotal support of members 20'-21. In the form shown, a simple eyelet 2'5 holds the deflection members 2021 in the pivoted assembled relation. I

Each of the deflection members 23- 21 comprises an elongated substantially flat body or base surface which, in closed position, lies substantially flush against the underside of the lower jaw 11, and the deflection plates 2223 are formed integrally with these base portions. As shown in FIG. 4 this flush relationship is achieved by providing the pivot hub 26 for member 20 with a slightly elevated otlset 27, as compared with the hub 28 for member 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the formation of deflection members 2021 is preferably such that, when inthe closed position shown, their adjacent edges meet substantially at a single line 219 and in a single plane. To retain this closed position, the adjacent edges may be formed with latching means comprising a hook-shaped part 30 on member 20 and an interfitting portion 31 on member 21.

In use, the clipper is operated in the conventional manner by elevating the lever 19 and swinging the same so as to bring the fulcrum part 33 to bear against the adjacent outer surface of the upper jaw Hi. When a supply of clippings has been accumulated, a projecting actuating portion 34 of member 29 (or 35 of member 2'1) may be engaged by the fingers in order to overcome the resilient action of latch means 30-31 and thus expose the opening between jaws 1011 on one or both sides, as desired. When the clippings have been discharged, the side plates 20'26 may be pressed toward each other until latching engagement at 331 is achieved.

In the form of FIG. 5, I show a slightly different construction for the side-plate members which have, therefore, been given the primed notation ltd-21'. The member 21 is designed for assembly immediately adjacent the lower surface of jaw 11, and the deflection member 20' overlaps portions of member 21'. Latching means is shown in the form of a bump 36 pressed out of the material of the body of member 21 for latching engagement with an opening 37 in the other deflection member 20', when the two side plates 22-2.3" are in closed position.

It will be seen that I have described an improved clipper construction featuring latched retention of accumulated clippings. The overall design is neat in appearance, and yet the actuating projections 34-35 are easily engaged for ready discharge of accumulated clippings.

While 1 have described the invention in detail for the preferred forms shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. in a nail clipper, a pair of elongated jaws secured to each other at one end and having opposed cutting surfaces at the opposite end, a pair of clipping deflectors pivotally supported on the outer side of one of said jaws, the point of pivotal support being at the secured end of said jaws, each of said deflectors comprising a side plate closing off one side of the space defined between said jaws, and said deflectors having latching engagement with each other when swung to closed position adjacent said jaws.

2. In a clipper of the character indicated, two elongated jaws secured to each other at one end and having opposed cutting edges at the opposite end, said jaws having registering openings near the cutting end thereof, a rivet passing through said openings and an operating lever pivoted to said rivet and actuable against the adjacent jaw, said jaws also having aligned openings at the secured end thereof, two side deflector members each including a part closing off one of the open sides of the space between said jaws and each being pivotally supported beneath the jaw opposite said lever and on an axis passing through said second aligned openings, said deflection members being independently swingable away from a closed position adjacent said jaws and toward an open position exposing the 4. A clipper according to claim 3, in which said latch opening between said jaws for discharge of clippings, means is defined on adjacent parts of said elongated sursaid deflection members having interfitting latch means faces. cooperating to retain a closed position thereof.

3. A clipper according to claim 2, in which each de- 5 References Cited in the file of this P fiection member comprises an elongatedsurface lying sub- UNITED STATES PATENTS stantially flush with the ad acent outer aw surrace and a side-plate portion bent upwardly to close ofi one of the 2,829,433 Killen Apr. 8, 1958 sides of the space between said jaws. 

